What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most affordable homes ($230k median).

Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benson	Orwell
People
Population	271Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S.	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S.	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,105±$51 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S.	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.